Doctor Who's Moffat denies he 'can't write for women'

TV writer Steven Moffat has hit back at Doctor Who fans who claim he “can’t write women”.

- ELLIE MUIR

The 62-year-old, best known for his work as the second showrunner and head writer of the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, and for co-creating Sherlock, has previously been accused of basing his female Doctor Who characters on outdated tropes.

In 2012, writer Jane Clare Jones said in an op-ed for The Guardian that Moffat had plucked female characters “from a box marked ‘tired old tropes’ (drip/scold/temptress/earth mother to name but a few)”, adding: “His consequent failure to sketch a compelling central dynamic between the lead and his companion has seriously affected the show’s dramatic power.”

In a new interview with The Times, the writer and producer has hit back at that criticism, saying he’s “successfully” written women “a lot of times” and reeled off examples including Doctor Who’s River Song and